Caught you, little fox

"Come out."

The arrows from Zhang Lanhe's hand kept flying mercilessly toward Xie Huizhou, each one fiercer than the last.

His tall, straight figure as he drew his bow resembled a giant serpent rearing up and flicking its tongue, facing the startled Xie Huizhou.

Xie Huizhou was no fool. He wasn't going to obediently come out and die just because he was told to.

As long as he ran fast enough, he could keep scraping by.

As he ran, Xie Huizhou taunted him. "Imperial Preceptor, catch me if you can. If you can't, stop making threats. You don't get to order me around."

His emperor father left him alone, and Xie Huizhou was used to his freedom. He had nothing but scorn for Zhang Lanhe's commanding tone.

I'm not listening to you.

With that, Xie Huizhou turned and ran. His sly gaze was captivating, his light-footed figure disappearing into the woods like a nimble deer.

The way he vanished without hesitation looked exactly like the person who had disappeared by the lake that night.

At the sight, Zhang Lanhe's languid expression sharpened. He rode after him, sending arrow after arrow toward Xie Huizhou's feet to cut off his escape.

Busy dodging the arrows, Xie Huizhou gradually lost his lead, and Zhang Lanhe got a clear look at him.

Xie Huizhou's disguised face was utterly ordinary, the sort seen everywhere on the street. Dressed in a Shadow Guard's uniform, he had no distinguishing features and could easily be forgotten after a glance.

It was the kind of disguise Shadow Guards excelled at.

The more noticeable Shadow Guards were, the greater the danger. They often adopted unremarkable appearances, a thousand people with a thousand faces, and no one knew what they truly looked like.

Zhang Lanhe leaped off his horse and pursued him at an astonishing speed, almost catching up to Xie Huizhou. "You're fast, but this is my territory. You can't escape."

"You can't trap me."

Though Xie Huizhou was good-natured, he had a temper too. When Zhang Lanhe refused to let up, he turned and fought him.

"Imperial Preceptor, I'm overwhelmed by the honor of you personally chasing down a nobody like me."

For an unremarkable peeping tom like him, wasn't it usually the underlings who came to hunt him down?

The Imperial Preceptor really was a model worker, even handling a pursuit himself.

Xie Huizhou decided to put in some effort and leave a few marks on Zhang Lanhe's face.

Zhang Lanhe discreetly examined Xie Huizhou's attire, speculating about his identity. "Dressed like a Shadow Guard. Who do you serve?"

If he was a Shadow Guard who stayed in the shadows and never showed his abilities in public, it made sense that Zhang Lanhe had been unable to find any trace of him.

Could he really be a honey trap someone sent against me?

No matter. I'll gladly accept.

Xie Huizhou sold out the Eighth Prince without hesitation, his manner utterly arrogant, looking every bit a smug petty villain borrowing another's power. "Listen up. I'm the Eighth Prince's Shadow Guard, carrying out important business for my master. Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, or Eighth Highness won't spare you!"

Eighth Prince, if you're going to harm me, don't blame me for disregarding our brotherhood and using you as a shield to draw the hatred.

Better you than me, after all.

Please catch this blame I'm tossing your way.

"The Eighth Prince is nothing special. Even His Majesty couldn't protect you in front of me." Zhang Lanhe was as brazen as ever, casually uttering words that could get nine generations of his family executed. "A wise bird chooses its tree. Why not come over to my side? You'll have better prospects than with the Eighth Prince."

Zhang Lanhe had always excelled at threats and inducements.

His fearsome reputation made many people afraid of him, but he controlled more than half the realm, and plenty of people chasing fame and fortune still tried every possible way to approach him.

When he deliberately sought to recruit someone, few refused.

Xie Huizhou saw through his intention to keep him there and refused decisively. "Shadow Guards like me are everywhere. I appreciate your kindness, Imperial Preceptor. Why not tell me plainly what you're after, chasing me all this way?"

He had only peeked at a love-triangle showdown hoping for a little sweetness. Getting hunted down for it was truly an unspeakable tragedy.

Gawking at drama came with risks.

"Then take off your clothes and let me see your waist." The Imperial Preceptor's words were enough to make anyone's brain freeze. He was completely confident in his judgment. "You're the person I'm looking for. I need to confirm my suspicions."

He had placed a mark on that person that no one in the world could destroy. One look would tell him whether this was him.

If it was, everyone would be happy. If not, he couldn't be blamed for showing no mercy.

At those words, Xie Huizhou stepped back, dumbfounded. "Imperial Preceptor, I never imagined you were this sort of person! You lust after my body! I won't submit to tyranny!"

This is bad. Zhang Lanhe really does like men. He wants to strip me the moment we meet.

The ever-changing Snake Pattern was clearly no ordinary thing. It would definitely expose him, so he couldn't let the Imperial Preceptor have his way.

Zhang Lanhe had only spoken to inform him of what he intended to do, not to ask Xie Huizhou's opinion.

"No matter. I'll verify it myself."

As soon as Xie Huizhou drew close to Zhang Lanhe, the Snake Pattern on his waist started acting up again, seemingly excited by Zhang Lanhe's proximity.

Xie Huizhou's expression turned decidedly strange.

It's starting again. It really does have something to do with him. Xie Huizhou dodged Zhang Lanhe's hand as it reached to strip off his clothes, inwardly shocked by how unscientific the Snake Pattern was. As expected of an Imperial Preceptor who dabbles in mysticism. This mark is pretty unique. It even changes.

Xie Huizhou didn't think too deeply about it. After all, he had transmigrated into a book, so a little fantasy element showing up was hardly strange.

One wanted to strip the other, while the other tried to stop him. Both were hot-blooded young men, and their struggle soon became close-quarters combat.

Physical contact was unavoidable in close combat. Whenever the Snake Pattern was touched, a strange shudder made his scalp tingle.

Xie Huizhou's health was already worse than most people's. Soon, a light sweat broke out and he was panting, but he kept striking ruthlessly.

You left me in such a sorry state before. Just watch me give you a proper beating in return!

As they fought fiercely, Zhang Lanhe caught a refreshing medicinal fragrance when Xie Huizhou drew close. It was so familiar that his brow relaxed.

"It really is you." Zhang Lanhe had thought he was merely a boring ant. He hadn't expected this windfall, and excitement immediately seized him. "You actually dared to appear before me again. There's no mistaking it."

The Shadow Guard uniform fitted closely, making his waist look almost identical to that of the person in Zhang Lanhe's memory. Zhang Lanhe reached out and felt it.

Xie Huizhou: "?"

Zhang Lanhe had always been a clean freak who disliked others approaching him. Instead of putting distance between them, he was touching his waist!

Could Zhang Lanhe's obsession with cleanliness have been cured?

A medical miracle.

While Xie Huizhou stood stunned, the sword on Zhang Lanhe's back moved. "Watch my sword!"

His sword sliced through Xie Huizhou's clothes, revealing a stretch of fair waist. The silver Snake Pattern flickered in and out of sight, even swimming over to nuzzle Zhang Lanhe's fingertip ingratiatingly, its mung-bean-sized eyes filled with a plea for a reward.

"You still bear my mark. It really is you."

Under Xie Huizhou's astonished gaze, Zhang Lanhe caught his wrist. His emerald eyes reflected Xie Huizhou's figure, his snake pupils locking onto him.

"Caught you, little fox."